Long NWs, no crying - just trying to sleep, any new eyes very welcome!

[anna*]

I do think it's worth seeing a homeopath if the homeopathic remedy doesn't work. A homeopath will take a REALLY detailed medical history, and make a very specific recommendation which might be totally different between one patient and the next even if they both had similar symptoms.

[anna*]

Another thought is melotonin - I know it's far from ideal but we're talking last resorts here. If it would work for just a few nights in a row maybe it would 'reset' his night sleep bodyclock?

[babybarr]

Another thought is melotonin - I know it's far from ideal but we're talking last resorts here. If it would work for just a few nights in a row maybe it would 'reset' his night sleep bodyclock?

This will be the next step for us.... after all they use it with adults to "reset their body clock"  I am going to talk to the GP about this also.  Just for a few nights to see if we can knock it on the head!

[londonmama]

I know melatonin is not used here, but it is so widely available in the US and Canada that surely it can't be that bad just for a couple of days?  You can buy stacks of it on the shelves at Walmart for goodness sake!

Might be just what he needs to get settled.

[mmom]

Laura, I was thinking Melatonin too. I was even looking into it recently.  Definitely talk to your GP about it.

[babybarr]

Things have taken a turn for the worse in the last few days.  Saturday night he was awake doing his thing but acting out everything he'd done in the day.  That involved pretending to fall over (that's his new thing!!) over and over obviously in his bed, I'm now getting concerned that he is going to hurt himself.  Last night when I sat him on my lap to give him meds (got canines coming which certainly aren't helping) he carried on all his weirdness on my lap, then as usual promptly asks to go back to bed.  It's not as if he wants me there.

I'm convinced the more OT he gets the worse it becomes but I can't get him to sleep any longer and he is in such a mess now.  One longer nap will help for one night and then it starts again, or if he has 2 long naps in a row he has a crib party!  I can't believe that he can be SO touchy a sleeper.

I feel completely lost and shattered.    I feel completely fed up with the medical system in this country.  I was told many times when DS was small that there was nothing wrong with him - and lo and behold, mum knows best!  I just want someone to actually listen and try and find out why he can't get back to sleep at some points in the night but is fine at others.

Sorry to rant, I do also welcome any routine suggestions if you think they may help!

[Roseii]

So sorry you are going through this
Do you think he could actually be "sleep walking" iykwim? Did you see that programme on ch3 quite recently about the 3 year old girl who would be up for around 5 hours every night? They took her to a sleep clinic (I take it your doc thinks there is no need? Sorry haven't read through your whole thread) and tracked her sleep and she wasn't actually awake during these periods, even though it looked like she was, she was actually sleep walking/acting. She used to act out elaborate fantasies etc. I know she is older than your LO is now though. In the end it was a big routine problem with her...
Sorry if that's no help it just struck a chord when you said about him acting out things he had done in the day.
I wish you so much luck it must be soooo difficult
xxx

[babybarr]

Thanks, Was that programme about "Jess".  I watched it but they actually said she was awake and not sleepwalking even though the title said she was... and clearly putting her back in her own bed solved the problems!!

He's been seen at a sleep clinic but they won't do a "sleep study" on him!

He's been through quite a lot but I haven't done any of the things that the sleep clinic look for, you know, all the props / AP / no routine etc etc.  I've probably been more neurotic that most mums to try and stick to doing all the "right" things.

If you think of anything let me know!!

[Roseii]

oops sorry, I got a bit confused there, I think it was that programme I had it in my head that they said she was sleepwalking...Sorry.
I wish so much I could help you. I will think about it and let you know, although all the suggestions on here have been great I am sorry you are still stuck.
xxx

[babybarr]

Thank you.  The problem I have is when he is "caught up" within a day or so it all starts back up again.   

[mmom]

Huge Hugs Laura.  I didn't think things could get worse.  Why aren't they doing a sleep study on him?  This has been going on so long and you have really tried everything.  Obviously, he is OT.  But you have found that long naps make things worse, so what are the options?   This is such an extreme case that I am really surprised that they aren't giving him some kind of sleep aid.  Even something to get him back on track might help.  By now it might be that his body is programmed to wake at that point and he might need something to make him sleep through for a few nights to get him back on track.

[babybarr]

Why aren't they doing a sleep study on him?

I don't know!!!  They think he is just processing his and day will grow out of it.  Nevermind that I have to work four days a week and he is going hyper silly crazy from being OT!!

A long nap helps for maybe one day and I can only very rarely even get a long nap from him.  I'm worried my GP won't want to give him anything to help him sleep but I see no other option just at the moment, like you say to try and give him a chnace to sleep all night and get out of the habit of being up.  I feel so alone in all this. 

[babybarr]

have you tried *no naps*

I haven't BUT at ILs (every 3weeks or so - and we went yesterday) he only has 30min nap in the buggy and still he NWs!!! I'm too scared to try no nap.

I say get knocking even harder on their door....

I'm *supposed* to be getting a follow up phonecall (from the one last week that is) and I will be stressing how things have got even worse since then.  I think the biggest problem is they don't know what to suggest when all the things they do suggest, I already do!!

[Roseii]

How well does he sleep when he is not at home? (If you have done this?)
Surely the next step is to have his brain activity monitored over-night, you know a true sleep study?? (like on the ch3 prg) But obviously you might be worried that he might be totally out of character in a foreign place anyway...
xxx

[babybarr]

He's never slept away from home during the night other than hospital and obviously he doesn't sleep well there, despite our best efforts!  He refuses to nap in my ILs travel cot - he's too interested in EVERYTHING!  but he'll sleep in the buggy - but only one sleep cycle (if that), and the same in the car - only one sleep cycle.

He'd struggle to have a sleep study as he is completely hospital phobic BUT I would try anything if they suggested that, but they have told me it's nothing to worry about and he'll grow out of it!  Great eh?  They think he has trouble connecting his sleep cycles due to him being in and out of hospital and disrupted sleep, I wouldn't mind but he is likely to be in and out of hospital for the forseeable future so I don't know how he'll ever be able to do this.  Everything just seems so out of whack to me ifyswim?

Thank you so much for all your posts though, you girls here really are the best for suggestions and listening ears!